2023 was an exciting year for The Frugal Foodies. This hobby of sharing what I eat with others somehow blossomed into a form of income. I did a few paid branded posts. I was part of the writing team for a new food app. And I was a paid content creator for yet another new app. My big win was that I got paid to eat cheese and post about it for a campaign by the EU. (I just think it's cool to say I got paid to eat cheese.) Plus, blog traffic nearly tripled!
I by no means made enough to quit my day job. But I did make enough to cover all my food and blog expenses while still being in the green. Which feels quite on brand as a frugal being.
The best part was all the delicious food I ate and the people I connected with along the way. I had countless behind the scenes looks and got to chat with restaurant owners about their stories and goals. For 2024, I hope to expand my content to longer videos on YouTube with more in-depth information on the stories behind the meals.
I've shared my top breakfast sandwiches, burgers, pizza slices, and sweet treats of 2023.
And, after painful deliberation, it's time for my top 5 bites of the year!
5. Fat Boy Bulgogi from Syko
New York City is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and this is reflected in the food scene. One day while meandering around Park Slope, Brooklyn, I came across a spot serving up a fusion combo I've never seen before: Syrian (Sy) and Korean (ko).
We got the Syrian nachos (which were good, but not wowing), and the bulgogi fatboy, which absolutely stunned us.
It consists of a Korean pancake packed with bulgogi, rice, lettuce, and a bibimbap sauce. The pancake had a delightfully crispy outside, and smooth, almost creamy inside, and the bulgogi beef was mega tender with a lovely grilled flavor.
It was one of those, "Only in New York...." experiences, and one of my top bites of 2023.
Pecking House serves up fried chicken with an Asian flare, and it is nothing short of spectacular. The chicken has a delightfully crunchy coating that's not quite as heavy as American fried chicken, but not quite as light as Korean or Japanese fried chicken. It has an ever so subtle kick, and the chicken is perfectly moist and juicy. No dry birds here folks.
My first Pecking House experience was the chili fried chicken at Dragon Fes, a massive Chinese food festival in NYC. The chili sauce wrapped my mouth is a slow burn heat hug full of flavor. The crunchiness and juiciness were wowing. It was love at first bite.
Of course I had to go to their brick and mortar store in Brooklyn, and I was equally as impressed. The chili chicken sando is topped with chili oil, kewpie mayo, and a delightful green chutney. (Note: the menu changes, and this creation I had in Jun 2023 looks different than the current menu). The masterful balance of salt, fat, and acid combined with a subtle hit and mix of textures makes this one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in NYC.
Note: The cornbread is also stellar... don't miss it!
3. Honey Butter Pancakes from Golden Diner
Golden Diner serves up American diner fare with Jewish and Chinese twists. It's a not so hidden gem that I think is deserving of all the buzz. The Chinatown Egg Sando was my #2 breakfast sandwich of 2023 (find out who got #1 HERE). And their honey butter pancakes get my #3 bite of 2023 award.
They are perfectly thick and fluffy with a soft crisp on the bottom. The honey butter is rich and decadent, and the syrup has a hint of lemon zest to add a unique pop of acid. They are simple, yet elevated, and my favorite stack of pancakes in NYC yet!
2. Salteñas from Bolivian Llama Party
Salteñas are baked empanadas from Brazil that are filled with a juicy, meaty, stew-like filling. They are like a soup dumpling meets empanada, and I can't believe I've lived 30 years without trying one.
I pulled into Bolivian Llama Party in Sunnyside, Queens for a couple salteñas, and my taste buds will never be the same. The dough had a nice thickness, slight graininess, and ever so subtle sweetness. The filling was warm and hearty with veggies, tender chunks of beef, egg, and herbs. A side of green sauce added a pop of freshness and low heat to tie everything together perfectly.
1. Steak Feast at El Palenque in Montevideo
Every so often you have a life changing meal where you relish each bite knowing you may never taste such perfection again. I had one such meal at El Palenque in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The meats were cooked on a rotating parilla, a traditional south American metal grill that's heated over charcoal. Like Argentina, Uruguay is famous for it's grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic free beef. The low and slow method of grilling saturated the meat with deep charred flavor that got my taste buds doing somersaults. The meat itself had an outrageous umami and pure beef flavor that altered my beef standards forever.
Cheers to a delicious year!
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